The first, the IHG Rewards Traveler, is a more "basic" card. It earns IHG rewards points on all purchases, and includes a few perks, like a free fourth night on stays booked with points, and Gold elite status if you spend $10,000 on the card in a calendar year. It's useful, but relatively low-frills — exactly what you'd expect for a card with a $29 annual fee.

The better option is the IHG Rewards Premier credit card. While it has a higher $89 annual fee, it offers much more value than that. In addition to the 80,000-point sign-up bonus, the card offers an annual anniversary free night certificate that can be used at any category 1-7 hotel (hotels that cost 40,000 points per night or less). While that means that some of IHG's most premium locations are excluded, the certificate is still valid at a ton of locations all around the world — I had no trouble finding properties in major cities like New York and Chicago during peak travel season, all charging well upward of $200, which accept the free night certificate.

In effect, the value of the free night certificate can be way more than the card's $89 annual fee — that ultimately makes it a great way to save a ton on a hotel stay.

Take a look below at some of the best places you can stay using the free night certificate. And, if you save the points from your sign-up bonus until you have the free night certificate, you'll be able to stay for at least a total of three nights.

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